14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, July 25, 2013 in Columbus, IN
Aircraft: CLAYTON GERALD H GLASTAR GS-1, registration: N513GC
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 25, 2013, about 0932 eastern daylight time, N513GC, a Clayton Gerald H, Glastar GS-1 single engine airplane, was destroyed after impacting terrain and an occupied residence near Columbus Municipal Airport (BAK), Columbus, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured and a pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. No ground injuries were reported. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane had departed BAK at 0929 for a local flight.
The airplane was on downwind leg for a touch-and-go landing. The passenger reported the engine was still running at high rpm, and the pilot was “working frantically on a switch for the propeller”, but the airplane was still descending. The airplane descended, and struck obstructions and terrain coming to rest upright inside a residence. The impact resulted in a significant fuel leak and the two pilots exited the airplane as it was engulfed in an explosion and fire. The one adult inside the residence was able to safely exit.
Pilot Gerald Clayton dies in hospital
Gerald Clayton
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Officials say the pilot of a plane that crashed into a Columbus home on Thursday, July 25 died overnight at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis.A spokesperson for Wishard Hospital says Gerald Clayton, 81, died sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning at the hospital.
Clayton, along with another person, were traveling in a single-engine private plane and were taken to the hospital after the plane crashed into a house in Columbus. Clayton and his passenger suffered burn injuries.
The plane is one that took him nine years to build himself, finishing it about seven years ago.
The plane had mechanical issues in the past. Clayton thought he had those issues fixed, which was the reason for his test flight the day of the crash.
Clayton worked was a volunteer guide at the Atterbury-Balakar Air Museum in Columbus. Clayton is a former member of the Air Force. His picture from 1951 hangs in the museum.
Clayton leaves behind five children.
Source: http://www.wane.com
